Hurricane Threat Poses No Problem

Wallace Keffer Top Vsga Qualifying

JAMES CITY — Nobody knew whether to continue to play or join the fray on Interstate 64 West.

Most of the golfers opted for the former, finishing the second day of a 36-hole qualifier at the Virginia State Golf Association Senior Amateur at Kingsmill.

Sam Wallace, who plays out of Two Rivers Country Club in Williamsburg, shot a 73 on the par-71 River Course. That score, coupled with his 69 Monday, landed him in a tie for medalist honors with Roanoke County resident Dan Keffer.

The top 32 golfers advanced into match play, which begins at 8 a.m. this morning. They'll play two rounds each today and Thursday, weather permitting, and an 18-hole championship final Friday.

VSGA officials have come up with all kinds of contingency plans in case Hurricane Bonnie does her worst. There is a setup that calls for two rounds Friday, and another one that includes two rounds Saturday if necessary.

Weather held out Tuesday until the late afternoon, when rain fell heavily for a while. All participants were able to finish their rounds since lightning and flooding of the course did not occur.

Wallace, 59, has never won this event. He was, however, the qualifying medalist at last year's Senior Am in Hot Springs.

He had an interesting round Tuesday, finishing even with three birdies through his first nine holes.

``I really hit good shots, or shots that I thought were good,'' he said. ``But then I'd look up and they'd be going to the right or into the bunker. It was really a struggle.''

But he ended up in fine shape.

Gloucester's Wayne Jackson of James River Country Club finished with a two-day total of 147 and in a tie for fourth place. Local players O.D. Gardner and Harry Cain tied for sixth at 149.

Others from the Peninsula area who made the cut bar of 157 were Newport News resident Moss Beecroft (154) and Hampton's Carlisle Smith (153) and Elster Charles (155).

Three men had a playoff for the final two spots, which was won on the first hole by John Oliver of Chesterfield and defending champion Claude Williamson of Waynesboro.

In the Super Seniors category, for ages 70-and-over, Spotswood Country Club golfer J.T. Hearn was the qualifying medalist at 155. Robert Lundberg of Two Rivers made the cut with a two-round total of 157.

Eight Super Seniors advanced into today's match play, which will include a single round each day through Friday to determine a champion in that division.

Jennifer L. Williams can be reached at 247-4644 or by e-mail at jwilliams@dailypress.com.